Philadelphia man admits to being shooter in Christmas Day 2011 killing in Cheltenham

COURTHOUSE — A Philadelphia man began the New Year facing decades in prison for the fatal shooting of his estranged girlfriend’s new boyfriend during a domestic-related incident in Cheltenham on Christmas Day 2011.

Rayshon Carwheel, 25, of North Park Avenue, showed no emotion Wednesday as he was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 22 ½ to 50 years in a state correctional facility in connection with the 1:55 a.m. Dec. 25, 2011, shooting death of 25-year-old Robens Borno as Borno wrapped gifts at his Elkins Park home in the 1400 block of Beech Avenue.

The sentence was imposed by Judge Joseph A. Smyth as part of a plea agreement.

Carwheel pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree murder, recklessly endangering another person and firearms not to be carried without a license in connection with the crime. The sentence included the maximum term of 20-to-40-years imprisonment for third-degree murder, which is a killing committed with malice.

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A charge of first-degree murder, which is an intentional killing and is punishable of life imprisonment, was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

“This was the murder of an unarmed man who was wrapping presents on Christmas Eve. He was surrounded by family and friends and the defendant walked in with a handgun he had retrieved. He was looking for a fight and he lost it. Seconds later, the victim was dead,” alleged Assistant District Attorney Alec O’Neill, who sought a lengthy prison sentence against Carwheel.

“It’s a shocking crime that was pointless and violent and shattered the victim’s family’s Christmases forever,” O’Neill added.

Defense lawyer Louise Petrillo said Carwheel is remorseful.

“He realizes the severity of what he’s done and the time he is facing. While he’s in prison he wants to be a mentor to other people so they don’t make the same mistakes that he did. From the very beginning he was very remorseful,” Petrillo said.

“I think his lack of emotion today was a result of his being emotionally drained. This is the end of a very long process for him,” said co-defense lawyer Gregory Nester.

A second Philadelphia man charged in connection with the murder, Ezra Childs, 22, of the 3900 block of Dell Street, previously pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree murder and firearms not to be carried without a license and is awaiting sentencing in connection with his role in the incident. Childs was the lookout during the fatal shooting, prosecutors alleged.

An investigation began when Cheltenham police responded to the residence to investigate a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police found Borno, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds, in the dining room of the home, according to the arrest affidavit. Borno was pronounced dead at Einstein Hospital at 2:26 a.m.

A subsequent autopsy determined Borno died from multiple gunshots to the torso and authorities allegedly uncovered four projectiles from Borno’s body, according to court papers.

Carwheel’s estranged girlfriend, who is the mother of his child, broke up with Carwheel in early December and she became involved with Borno, according to the criminal complaint. Lawyers described Carwheel’s relationship with his estranged girlfriend as on-again, off-again.

Borno, his girlfriend and her mother were sitting at the dining room table wrapping gifts when Carwheel and Childs appeared in the home with guns, according to the criminal complaint.

“(Carwheel’s estranged girlfriend) said she asked Borno to pass her a piece of tape and heard gunshots being fired behind her and saw Borno fall to the floor,” according to the arrest affidavit filed by Cheltenham and county detectives.

Witnesses told police they saw Carwheel in the dining room and Childs, who is also known as Scooter, standing behind Carwheel near a kitchen door, according to the arrest affidavit. Childs reportedly is Carwheel’s cousin, court papers indicate.

Witnesses reported that after the shooting, Carwheel said to his estranged girlfriend, “I’ve been calling you all day and night and you don’t answer the phone” and “Oh, this is why you couldn’t answer the phone,” according to the arrest affidavit.